People wearing masks walk on a street in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, March 15, 2020. (Xinhua/Chong Voon Chung)
More confirmed COVID-19 cases were reported in Asia-Pacific countries on Sunday, with biggest daily increase seen in Malaysia and Thailand.
MALAYSIA
Malaysia announced 190 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in its largest one-day increase so far, bringing the total number of cases to 428, said the Health Ministry.
Initial investigations revealed most of the new cases related to a large scale religious event held in the capital of Kuala Lumpur from late February to early March.
A total of 42 cases had been cured and discharged, while nine were currently being held in intensive care and in need of assisted breathing.
THAILAND
Thailand also saw the biggest daily jump, with 32 new cases reported, bringing the total number to 114.
Among the 32 cases, nine involved visiting a boxing stadium in Bangkok, three had contacts with tourists in a restaurant at the Suvarnabhumi International Airport and one was a civil servant who was infected while on duty in Spain.
SOUTH KOREA
South Korea reported a double-digit growth of 76 more cases of the COVID-19, compared to 24 hours ago as of midnight Sunday local time, raising the total number of infections to 8,162.
The double-digit growth was the first time in 23 days since Feb. 21.
Three more deaths were confirmed, lifting the death toll to 75.
JAPAN
The number of COVID-19 infections in Japan increased by 30 to 803 on Sunday evening, according to data from Japan's health ministry and local governments.
The majority of confirmed cases stemmed from Hokkaido Prefecture which has confirmed 148 cases and declared a state of emergency over the situation and Aichi Prefecture which has reported 121 cases.
According to the latest statistics, infections in Osaka have risen to 106, Tokyo 90, Hyogo 78 and Kanagawa Prefecture has confirmed 55 COVID-19 cases.
The 697 cases of infections on the virus-hit Diamond Princess cruise ship previously quarantined in Yokohama Port were calculated separately.
The death toll in Japan from the virus currently stands at 31, including seven from the cruise ship, according to the health ministry.
AUSTRALIA
Australia has reported 249 confirmed cases so far, including three deaths till 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.
The Australian government required a two-week mandatory quarantine for all international visitors entering Australia, which will be effective from midnight, while schools will remain open until further notice.
Cruise ships from foreign ports have been banned from docking in Australia, with non-essential mass gatherings of more than 500 people banned from Monday.
THE PHILIPPINES
The Philippines confirmed 29 new cases and three new deaths, bringing the total number to 140 and death toll to 11.
The Philippines on Sunday started implementing a 30-day lockdown in Metro Manila to limit the movement of people in the region in a bid to contain the spread of the virus.
From March 15 until April 14, domestic travel to and from Metro Manila will be restricted. The government also announced travel restrictions for all foreign nationals coming from countries reporting local transmissions of COVID-19.
INDONESIA
As many as 21 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Indonesia, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 117.
Of these new cases, 19 were found in Jakarta and two in Central Java.
INDIA
The total number of COVID-19 cases in India rose up to 107, with two deaths.
Of these, 17 cases were foreign nationals.
Indian authorities brought back a total of 218 Indians from Milan, including 211 students and 234 from Iran, including 131 students and 103 pilgrims on Sunday, and they would be put under quarantine for 14 days.
AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan reported five more COVID-19 cases, bringing the total to 16.
As a precautionary measure, the Afghan government has decided to postpone the start of educational year, which was was supposed to commence on March 22, for one month, and all the government departments and private schools, universities and educational centers would remain closed during the period.
The number of suspected cases has been on the rise and so far 206 suspected cases of COVID-19 have been tested across the country.
CAMBODIA
Cambodia's Ministry of Health said on Sunday that one more foreigner tested positive for COVID-19, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the kingdom to eight.
In a bid to curb the spread of the virus, Cambodia has decided to ban entry of travelers from Italy, Germany, Spain, France and the United States for 30 days starting from March 17, and from Iran, starting from March 18.
The Southeast Asian country has also allowed all public and private school students in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap City to take an early vacation from Saturday.
NEW ZEALAND
New Zealand has confirmed two more cases of COVID-19, adding the total number to eight.
Both of the newly confirmed cases are overseas visitors who recently arrived in New Zealand.
